World Prison NewsPost info (IF it doesn't belong in another PTO forum) about the prison system, prisoner support, criminal justice, etc., that you learn firsthand, through the media, from an inmate, or any other source. News can be local, state, Federal, or int'l.

“In addition to the bad ones — and I call these bad — in addition to them, they’re releasing some good ones that we use every day to wash cars, to change oil in our cars, to cook in the kitchen, to do all that, where we save money,” Sheriff Prator said. “Well, they’re going to let them out.”

I do not know costs in Louisiana but here in California that "free prisoner labor" costs taxpayers $75,000 per year per inmate. Might be free to the keeper but it ain't free to the rest of us.

It would appear that was just one of Prator's misinformed statements. According to a news report on KSLA:

"But Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Correction Secretary James Le Blanc told KSLA there were many inaccuracies in Sheriff Prator's assessment of the act."

State officials released this list of statements to KSLA:

Louisiana made history this year by passing comprehensive bipartisan criminal justice reform measures. Today, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator held a press conference in which he gave inaccurate information about the reform legislation that merit clarification:FALSE: Offenders whose sentences are seeing small reductions include multiple offenders of the most violent crimes.FACT: The criminal justice reform legislation applies solely to non-violent offenders who qualify for good time release.FALSE: The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association opposed criminal justice reforms.FACT: The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association did not oppose the legislation that passed enacting these reforms. Additionally, the reforms were supported by the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association.FALSE: There is no support for these reforms in Louisiana’s judicial system.FACT: These reforms are based on the most in-depth study of the criminal justice system ever done in Louisiana’s history. They were done in comparison to penalties in other conservative southern states and the recommendations will move Louisiana in line with those states that have seen a reduction in their incarceration and recidivism rates.FALSE: These reforms will make our communities less safe.FACT: All evidence tells us our communities will be safer. Louisiana’s prison population and recidivism rate have not only stabilized but declined as a result of similar reforms made by the Louisiana Sentencing Commission These new laws expand upon those reforms that have already shown to reduce the incarceration and recidivism rates. Additionally, offenders will have access to better rehabilitation, treatment and job training programs. The money saved by these measures will be re-invested into communities statewide.FALSE: Offenders qualifying for minimal release are being released far earlier than they would have been before the legislature passed the reform bills.FACT: The offenders we’re talking about here would have served 40% of their sentence, but are now serving 35%. That ends up being only two months shaved off of the time they would have served while amounting to significant state savings.FALSE: The offenders qualifying for slightly shorter sentences are being released without proper vetting by the Department of Corrections and they have not received adequate rehabilitation programming.FACT: The record of every single offender qualifying is being reviewed individually prior to release. Probation and parole officers are aware of all new parolees coming to their districts. Additionally, money saved through these reforms will be reinvested into rehabilitation programs that will reduce recidivism and spur increased savings in the future. Statewide polling shows us that Louisianans care most about preventing crime, not the length of a sentence.[1]FALSE: Louisianans don’t want these changes.FACT: Sheriff Prator is incorrect. Statewide polling shows that a majority of Louisianans support ending mandatory minimums,[2] safely reducing penalties for low-level drug offenses,[3] less prison time for non-violent offenders when paired with a greater use of alternatives[4] and reducing sentences and reinvesting the money saved in treatment and supervision programs.[5]FALSE: Reform measures passed swing the “jail doors” wide open and leave them open.FACT: On average, the Louisiana Department of Corrections releases 1,500 inmates per month. In the very early stages of implementing the reform legislation, that number will increase to around 3,000 who qualify for good-time release, but level off to the normal rate over time. The inmates scheduled for release are already receiving rehabilitation services and their probation and parole officers have been notified and are aware of the inmates who will be arriving in their districts.FALSE: Sheriff Prator incorrectly stated that these changes were done “under the radar” and that legislators and sheriffs did not know what was in the bills.FACT: That couldn’t be further from the truth. A bipartisan task force comprised of legislators, sheriffs, district attorneys, victims’ advocates, judges and others held regular, public meetings. The legislation was debated in open hearings in the legislature. The governor and other supporters spoke to the media about these efforts regularly. In fact, reforms were based on the most in-depth study of the criminal justice system ever done in state history and comparison to penalties in other conservative southern states and the recommendation was to move la more in line with those state that have seen a reduction in recidivism rate. If Sheriff Prator had these questions or reservations as this process was unfolding over a year ago, he could have taken advantage of many opportunities to participate in the process.